National and international rankings continue to recognize Princeton as leading university

National and international rankings continue to recognize Princeton as leading university

Princeton University continues to earn national and international recognition for its academic quality, outstanding undergraduate student experience, and generous financial aid program that enables Princeton students to graduate with the lowest student debt among national universities.

The University was ranked No. 1 in the Best National Universities category in the "U.S. News 2014 America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, No. 3 in the Forbes ranking of the 650 best undergraduate institutions in "America's Top Colleges," and No. 3 in the most recent list of the 100 "Best Values in Private Colleges" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance, which was released in the fall of 2012.

In addition to the No. 1 overall ranking, U.S. News & World Report recognized the University in other academic categories including its strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, pioneering financial aid program, best engineering curriculum and the economic diversity of its student body.

The Princeton Review education service recognized the University in multiple categories in its "Best 378 Colleges - 2014 Edition" list, including a No. 2 ranking for "Great Financial Aid" and top 10 rankings in the "best-run colleges," "students study the most" and "most beautiful campus" categories. Additionally, Princeton's sustainability efforts earned the University a place in the 2013 edition of "Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges," which profiles the nation's most environmentally responsible campuses. The Princeton Review is a private firm not affiliated with the University and ranked schools based on student survey responses to various elements of campus life.

In international surveys, Princeton was ranked No. 7 in the Shanghai Jiao Tong ranking, officially known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU); in the top 10 among 800 institutions across the globe by the QS World University Rankings; and ranked No. 6 in Times Higher Education's World University Rankings 2013 released in fall 2012. 

Princeton continues to rank highly in surveys measuring other areas including graduate school programs; favorable campus climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students; an education providing a stronger return on investment relative to other universities and for its effective social media engagement. 

Princeton was the first university in the United States to offer a comprehensive financial aid program that provides need-based aid in the form of grants rather than loans, making it possible for students to graduate from Princeton without debt. About 60 percent of Princeton undergraduates receive grants. The average grant for a student receiving aid this academic year is expected to be almost $40,000.

"We are pleased with the recognition the University consistently receives for its high quality of education, distinctive academic offerings, unique student experience and our groundbreaking financial aid program," Princeton officials said. "However, we do feel that no single ranking is capable of providing a complete picture of an institution, nor can it be used to solely determine whether it is the right match for a potential student." 

Princeton was also recognized in areas of service and leadership, including being listed in the top 15 among medium colleges and universities contributing the greatest number of graduating seniors to Teach For America.

"Service is at the core of a Princeton education, which we believe is enriched by our pioneering Bridge Year Program that offers students a unique international experience living abroad tuition-free while performing service projects before they begin their Princeton careers," Princeton officials said.

"Because each students' needs and interests differ, we encourage them to explore as many resources as they can to determine which college or university may be the best fit for them," said Princeton officials. "Additional resources for students interested in learning more about Princeton include the University's websites, social media accounts, admission materials and campus tours."